As VC is all about operating a bike in a vehicular manner...
You must be new here.
The premise is wrong. That's not what VC is all about (if only it were! if only it were!).
VC-ism is so much more (unfortunately). Back in the days when I used to think that VC was all about operating a bike in a vehicular manner, I used to think VC was a good thing. I have a very different view now.
If you want to start an argument among bicyclists, bring up John Forester and his cult-like following. Read the VC forum and you will see thread after thread degenerate into the same tired old fight over whether JF is a god or a demon. It isn't pretty.
Personally, I think the split was a wonderful thing for A&S.